The Pears have ruled out playing any cricket at New Road until at least the end of August after their ground was flooded for the second time in three weeks.

Worcestershire have already suffered losses of around #250,000 although they did receive a #75,000 hand-out from the England and Wales Cricket Board. Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said; "We would like to thank Edgbaston for agreeing to stage this game and the ECB for allowing us to switch to a venue outside the county.

"While we realise that most counties are suffering badly from the extreme weather conditions, we are suffering more than most and all we want to do is play some cricket.

"Over the last 18 days, we have played just 180 overs of cricket so it will be good for everybody to get back into a routine and put recent events behind us.

"We hope our members and supporters will turn up in large numbers to support the team. I think everybody is desperate just to watch a normal game of cricket."

Meanwhile, Worcestershire were set for County Championship action for the first time since mid-June when they travelled to Guildford to take on fellow Division One strugglers Surrey.

The Pears' last two first-class fixtures were abandoned without a ball being bowled at New Road. Their most recent outing came in last Tuesday's Twenty20 Cup defeat to Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The county are currently deciding where to play their home games for the next month.

Head coach Steve Rhodes, who at least had no injury problems to worry about, named a 12-man squad captained by Vikram Solanki.